When she arrived at the Grove, Lucy quickly grabbed her bag and rushed out of the train before Gray could see her. She headed up the elevator, down the stairs, and got the first taxi she could find. "To Scarlet's Mansion please," she said hoping into the car. The man tipped his hat and the Taxi was soon on its way.
The Grove was made by Erza's great grandfather. It was nothing more than a vast circle of big houses owned by wealthy families. From what Lucy knows Erza's great grandfather was a cruel man who wanted to only associate with rich people. Lucy always wondered why her dad never moved to a place like the Grove. Maybe Erza's family and Lucy's didn't like each other in the past? After all they both were cruel.
Despite this lavishing place, Erza always complained about it. She hated the quiet neighbors and the neat cut green grass. She hated how her father tried to befriend everyone in the Grove so that they would love his family. Of course Erza would never complain to her dad because they would most likely get into a fight.
Lucy understood exactly how Erza felt about her father but at times she envied Erza's relationship with him. Despite arguing a lot, the two truly did love one another. Lucy never felt that feeling with her own father. Most of the time when she was near him, it felt like he was a total stranger to her.
When she reached Scarlet Mansion she poked her head out the window and saw Erza nervously pacing back and forth. "What's wrong with her?" Lucy thought. Erza had always been the cool and calm type usually. Lucy had never seen her so hyped up before. After looking at Erza Lucy quickly turned around, handed the driver some money, thanked him, and got out of the car.
When Erza saw Lucy she stopped pacing back and forth. Her deep brown eyes soon sparkled with happiness. "Lucy!' she shouted running over to her and hugging her. "I'm so happy you're here!"
"It's good to see you to…But um….Erza…"
"Yes?"
"Can you please let go of me I can't breath…..?"
"Oh sorry Lucy," Erza said letting go of her and giving her chance to breath.
"So," Lucy said catching her breath "what's up with you Erza? Why did you want me to come here all of a sudden?"
But Erza ignored her question. Instead she kept starring up at her house. "I-I'll tell you later Lucy but we need to go inside." She turned to her and smiled. "My father is really excited to see you again….."
"O-ok…" Lucy slowly followed Erza up the stone steps to the mansion.
The mansion was quite fascinating. It was three stories and stretched widely across the land. On the right side was a beautiful statue of a white swan and around it where hundreds of roses. "My mom made that…" Erza said as she stopped moving to look at it. "She grew the roses for this place and made that statue. It's one of her best I think." Lucy nodded her head in agreement. Erza smiled and they continued inside the house.
The inside of the house looked a little old fashion. It had paintings of horses, statues people and magical creatures. Most of the floor was wood but was very clean. The walls had green wallpaper, which was actually a little strange. The stairs were black and white like a checker board, and they headed straight up to the others floors. "My mom designed the house to." Erza scratched her head embarrassed. "I know it's a little weird….. "
"Nah I really like it. It's nice to see different styles of houses. "
Erza gave a smile and laughed, with Lucy following. "Well it's nice to see Erza laughing for once. She's usually doom and gloom," a joking voice said.
Lucy looked up at the stairs and saw Erza's mother. A beautiful sight she was. Like her daughter she had long bloody hair and pleasant auburn eyes. However her rosy face seemed to be friendlier than Erza's. She was wearing simple painters' cloths as well. "Mom!" Erza said with an annoyed face. "We have a guest here. Can't you put on something a little more appropriate?"
"Stop sounding like your father Erza. Besides I was working on a painting."
"You always work on painting!"
"Stop getting so worked up," she said coming down the steps. "Lucy it's so good to see you again. Erza's done nothing but worry about you for these last few weeks," she said giggling.
Erza blushed and Lucy smiled. "Um….where's dad mom…?" Erza said trying to change the subject.
"Oh he's out right now talking with some business people. He'll be back by dinner."
"Oh ok then."
"Erza I have an idea. Why don't you show Lucy around?"
"Why? So she can see you art?"
"Well yes and so that two of you can spend some time with each other. I'm sure you have lodes to talk about."
"Y-y-yeah we do," Lucy stuttered. Lucy remembered that she hadn't told Erza about Natsu yet or the fact that Gray is stalking her, and because she told Erza that everything was okay she knew that if she told her these things now Erza would just get mad.
"Very well then," Erza's mom said cheerfully. "Lucy you can leave your things here."
"T-thank you very much." Lucy bowed and Erza's mom smiled.
"Well go have fun you two." She then went back upstairs to her painting.
The walk was pretty fun for Lucy. Not only was she able to spend time with her best friend but she got to see Erza's mom's art. The first place they went to was the kitchen and dinning worm. The kitchen was your normal day to day kitchen. It was white and had the simple tools one needs. The dinning room however was much different. The dinning table was made out of class but felt like rubber and the lighting in the room was rainbow. On the walls there where moving pictures that seemed to do different things every time Lucy looked at them. Erza said that her mom used her magic to do some of these things which Erza considered was cheating. Lucy however just laughed at that notion
They then went about the house a little more going into rooms that were mostly filled with Erza's mom artwork. Finally after 2 hours of looking through the grounds, Erza and Lucy made their way to the back of the house.
They had their own little or rather huge pond that had a giant red and blue boats, also something her mom created. Next to it was a pool that looked about 12 feet deep. "Well this is it..." Erza said sitting on the grass to looking out at the pond. "Nice huh..."
"I think its beautiful Erza," Lucy said smiling and sitting down next to here.
Erza just smiled and looked out into the scenery. A moment of silence lasted between the two. Every now and then Lucy would look at Erza. She would always have that same composed face yet you could sense her worried.
She had always been like this since they where little. Always the tough one and never showing any weakness, even when she was truly suffering. Lucy had always seen Erza as an older sister. The two could read each other like a book. Lucy hated seeing her like this so she said "So what's happening with you? Why did you want me to come here?"
"I-I needed help….."
"Help?" Lucy titled her head.
"My dad forced something on me yesterday…and I needed someone to talk to…"
"Can't you talk to your mom?" Lucy asked.
"No I can't. She's with his decision 100%"
"Erza you still haven't answered why I am here…"
"Well I needed someone to be on my side and try to convince them to…"
"Convince them to what?" Lucy began to get impatient.
Erza was about to open her mouth but quickly closed it. She then stood up and walked a bit away from Lucy. "I'll tell you during the ball tonight…"
"Ball? What Ball?"
"My father is holding a ball for the other families tonight….."
"Wait! Is that you invited me over!" Lucy suddenly asked standing up. "Just to go with you to a ball!"
"No there's another reason to why I wanted you to come."
"Then what is it Erza?" Lucy lashed out. Erza was about to tell the girl but quickly withdrew when she heard her mom calling.
"S-sorry Lucy I can't tell you now….Come on. We have to go see my mom….." Erza ran off in the other direction leaving a confused and impatient Lucy…..
Lucy might have thought she was the only one dealing with problems but she was dead wrong. In just a few houses down Gray, who still had a hurt foot, was waiting for an old friend of his to answer the door. "Come on Loke! I don't have all day! "Gray shouted
"Huh who is it?' Loke said as he opened the door halfway. For a minute he just stood there half awake with his eyes opening and closing. "What do you want?" he said drowsily.
"Let me in."
"Why should I? I don't even know you?"
"Are you an idiot! It's me Gray!"
Loki wiped his eyes and saw Gray clearly. "Oh hey Gray. What's up!'
Gray sighed. "Just let me inside..."
Loke smiled and Gray limped inside. "Aww man what happened to your knee?"
"I um…got hurt," Gray said softly. "Are your parents here?"
"No they left for the week. How did you get hurt?"
"I got kicked," he said walking over to the couch.
"By who?"
With his hand Gray summoned some ice and put it on his knee. "By Lucy…."
Loke blinked. "Lucy did that you? Wait Lucy's here right now?"
"Yes. Most likely at Erza's place.."
"Hahah you got hurt by a girl. How pathetic, " Loke said as he kept laughing.
"Shut up!" Gray launched a giant piece of ice at Loke's face. Loke fell to the floor then sat halfway up spitting out ice. "She took me at surprise!"
"Okay I'll try and believe you," Loke got off the floor and sat on a chair in front of Gray. "So why are you here anyway? Don't tell me you're here with Lucy?"
"No My aunt sent me here to meet up with Lisanna. She wants her and I to get back together it seems…"
Loke quickly leaned forward. "Are you serious! But I thought you two hated each other?"
"We do. I don't know what my aunt is thinking…She knows I hate her. I think there're both trying to get back at me…."
"Oh come on Gray what possible reason could either of them want revenge against you?"
"Well my aunt hates me for leaving for 2 years and Lisanna ….well let's just say that relationship didn't end well."
Loke laid back into his chair and sighed. "This is why I don't date."
"No, instead you date multiple women at a time."
"Don't you do that two?" he asked jokingly.
"Nah I don't want to date right now. I think after what happened with Lisanna I'm going to stay away from women for a while." Gray held the ice a little harder against his knee.
"What about Lucy though?"
Gray froze. "W-what are you t-talking about!'
"Well you two did have a thing going for a while right? And let me tell you something Gray. You were a lot different compared to the way you are now." Loke closed his eyes." But I'm sure you and Natsu are still having your little rival battles huh?"
"I haven't talked to Natsu at all."
"Oh?" he said in a curious way and opening one eye. "Then I guess you haven't heard the recent news between him and Lucy."
Gray stopped paying attention to his wound and looked at Loke. "What do you mean?"
"The two of them have been dating for some time now. I think it was around the time you left," Loke said smiling.
Gray looked back down at his knee. For a moment the room was nothing but silence. Loke could see from his posture and his silent voice that he was disturbed by this news. Loki just smiled. "Well I'm glad that some guy liked her..." Gray said defensively.
"That's a little cruel thing to say don't you think Gray?"
Gray clutched his hands tightly. "Heh not one bit. After what she did to me, I hope she get's hurt."
"Wow I've never heard you say anything like that before."
"Well it doesn't matter… I'm here to meet Lisanna not Lucy."
"If you're looking for Lisanna you're not going to find her at her home."
"Then where is she?"
"I don't know but I do know that she'll be at the ball tonight at Erza's place."
"Really?"
"Yes and yours truly has been invited to go."
Gray quickly stood up without noticing the pain in his foot. "Then can you get me in there Loke. I need to at least meet here so my aunt with get off my back?"
Loke smiled. "Sure Gray. What are friends for?"
At that line Gray looked at Loke suspiciously. "Alright out with it!"
"Out with what?"
"What do I have to do in return?"
"I'll tell you after the ball okay," he said sitting up and smiling. "Don't worry it's nothing big."
Gray sighed. "Fine whatever…."
Next Chapter-Lucy goes to the ball and hopes to have fun but her dreams are dashed when not only Gray shows up but also her ex friend Loke as well. To make matters worse she finally learns Erza secret and an unwanted girl shows up holding her own batch of secrets.
